Storms and Silence

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” – Mark 4:38

A scene from an old show has always stuck with me. The main character remembers his dad, who had passed away, and recalls him driving through a snowstorm. He sat in the backseat, unable to see anything, but his dad quietly guided the car along the snowy roads. He is in awe that his dad can navigate this dangerous situation he could not see through. He had complete faith, though, because he did it year after year.

I have become fascinated with God's seeming silence. We see it repeatedly in the Bible: God seems to disappear from the narrative entirely, and things run amok. This verse is plucked from the middle of a story about the disciples rowing their boat through a storm. The disciples are scrambling to escape this situation and working tirelessly to save the ship and themselves. Jesus, he is sound asleep… Until he is not. The disciples cry out for help, and he wakes up, calms the wind, and waves with a word.

God’s heroic entrance into these Biblical stories (the ark, exodus, Jesus coming, and resurrection) is preceded by silence and God’s people crying out for help. The cry for help is particular, though. It is a reminder to themselves that God has made a promise, and we need it. We should not be surprised (especially at this point) because God said he would do these things. God’s word precedes his silence, and then the event of God’s action fulfills his word after his people reach out in faith for that promise. The fulfillment of his word is always spectacular – parting the sea, descending into human form, coming back from the dead – but should not be shocking; he promised to be with us. When God seems quiet or absent, hold firm to God’s promise to provide/protect/deliver.

Has God been quiet in your life? Take heart, and do not be afraid; his silence always precedes the fulfillment of his promise to us.